Julia of Ex Miscellanea

Concept: This weaver's faerie blood lets her produce enchanted cloth and clothing of the highest caliber, though she rejects her heritage and as a result is tormented by her fey ancestor — a spider prince.

Julia Textrix of Ex Miscellanea is a maga from the Rusticani tradition (Houses of Hermes: Societates, pages 130–133), magi who excel in the combination of mundane crafts and arcane magic. She was born at the covenant of Florum in the Normandy Tribunal (see The Lion and the Lily, page 96), and is a member of the de Spinnen family who all bear a peculiar variety of Faerie Blood, that of a faerie spider. An encounter with her faerie ancestor at an early age left her with a deadly fear of the creature, and, by extension, all spiders. Consequently she would not be educated at Florum, and instead was apprenticed to one of the covenant's associates from whom she learned the art of magical weaving. Her faerie blood allows her to convert her own body weight of raw fibers into finished cloth every day. Her tradition-specific Virtue of Craft Magic allows her advantages to spellcasting while practicing some mundane craft; see Houses of Hermes: Societates, pages 131–132 for more details. All her spells are affected by her Side Effect Virtue, in that they do not end instantly when the duration ends, but instead gradually fade away. This is barely noticeable for Momentary and Diameter Duration spells, but it takes about an hour for her Duration: Sun spells, whereas Duration: Moon and Year spells diminish over the course of a day. This fading period is also extended by her Enduring Magic; a spell that has actually lasted four Moon durations takes four days to fade away to nothing. Many of Julia's spells employ Rego Craft Magic, for more details see Covenants, page 49.

Julia is somewhat of a loner, preferring not to join a covenant but instead selling the products of her magical craft to any who will buy them. Her fabulous cloth is highly sought after by the rich, for she can create miraculous colors and effects impossible with mundane dyes. She is careful not to draw too much attention to herself through this trade, working principally through a middleman who cheats her outrageously, but she doesn't mind since it keeps the Quaesitores off her back. Since her cloths are usually charged items, the magical properties fade over time, giving her a steady trade. She receives news of the families of her customers from her vendor, and is a keen follower of the social whirl from which she is forever barred due to her Gift. Instead she sometimes impregnates her fabrics with magical impulses intended to improve the lives of those who wear them.

The spider prince who is her ancestor resents her rejection of him, and sends his many-legged minions to torment her on a regular basis.

Characteristics: Int +1, Per –2, Pre 0, Com 0, Str 0, Sta +2, Dex +3, Qik 0

Size: 0 Age: 26 (26) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 0 (0) Confidence Score: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Craft Magic*, Strong Faerie Blood (Spinnen); Affinity with Rego, Enduring Magic, Harnessed Magic, Lesser Immunity to Poison, Minor Magical Focus (clothing), Puissant Finesse, Second Sight**, Side Effect, Spell Foci* ; Difficult Longevity Ritual, Meddler, Supernatural Nuisance, Weak Spontaneous Magic*; Fear (spiders)

* House Virtues and Flaw

** free with Strong Faerie Blood

Personality Traits: Busybody +3, Industrious +2, Brave –2

Reputations: none

Combat:

Dodge: Init 0, Attack n/a, Defense 0, Damage n/a

Soak: +2

Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, –1, –3, –5, Unconscious

Wound Penalties: –1 (1–5), –3 (6–10), –5 (11–15), Incapacitated (16–20), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Artes Liberales 2 (grammar), Awareness 1 (faerie trickery), Craft: Linen 3 (clothes), Craft: Wool 1 (felt), Concentration 1 (Herbam), Faerie Lore 1 (spiders), Finesse 3+2 (craft magic), Folk Ken 2 (craftsmen), Latin 4 (Hermetic), Magic Theory 4 (craft magic), Low German 5 (Flemish), Parma Magica 1 (faerie powers), Penetration 1 (Animal), Profession: Dyer 1 (reds), Second Sight 2 (faerie glamour)

Arts: Cr 7**, In** 3**, Mu** 4**, Pe** 3**, Re** 9**; An** 5**, Aq** 1**, Au** 1**, Co** 2**, He** 7**, Ig** 1**, Im** 2**, Me** 1**, Te** 1**, Vi** 3

)

Twilight Scars: none Equipment: none Encumbrance: 0 Spells Known:

Doublet of Impenetrable Silk (MuAn 15/+15 ^F Decay Fur and Hide (PeAn 10/+10) Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5/+16) Cloak of the Duck's Feathers (ReAq 5/+12) Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+11) Conjure the Sturdy Vine (CrHe 5/+16)

Trap of the Entwining Vines (CrHe 15/+16) Piercing Shaft of Wood (Mu(Re)He 10/+11) Curse of the Rotted Wood (PeHe 5/+12)

Ward Against the Faeries of the Wood (ReHe 20/+18)

Unseen Porter (ReTe 10/+12) Unraveling the Fabric of Herbam (PeVi 10/+8) F includes Focus

Appearance: A plain, dumpy young woman. Her back is hunched from her time over the loom, and her hands are constantly stained with dye. She dresses in functional clothes appropriate to her status as a craftswoman, in muted hues of brown, although she ties her hair back with a kerchief that is a rich blue. Her faerie heritage is evident in her hair, which is thick, black, wiry, and sparsely covers her whole body; and in her irises, which are as black as her pupils and give her an unsettling stare.

Sigil: Julia's casting sigil is a thread-like weave, while her voting sigil is an embroidered swatch of cloth.

Characteristics: Int +1, Per –2, Pre 0, Com 0, Str 0, Sta +2, Dex +3, Qik 0

Size: 0 Age: 41 (41) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 2 (13) Confidence Score: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Craft Magic*, Strong Faerie Blood (Spinnen); Affinity with Rego, Enduring Magic, Harnessed Magic, Lesser Immunity to Poison, Minor Magical Focus (clothing), Puissant Finesse, Second Sight**, Side Effect, Spell Foci* ; Difficult Longevity Ritual, Meddler, Supernatural Nuisance, Weak Spontaneous Magic*; Fear (spiders)

* House Virtues and Flaw

** free with Strong Faerie Blood

Personality Traits: Busybody +3, Industrious +2, Brave –2

Reputations: none

Combat:

Dodge: Init 0, Attack n/a, Defense 0, Damage n/a

Soak: +2

Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, –1, –3, –5, Unconscious

Wound Penalties: –1 (1–5), –3 (6–10), –5 (11–15), Incapacitated (16–20), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Artes Liberales 2 (grammar), Awareness 1 (faerie trickery), Craft: Linen 4 (clothes), Craft: Wool 4 (felt), Concentration 2 (Herbam), Faerie Lore 1 (spiders), Finesse 4+2 (craft magic), Folk Ken 2 (craftsmen), Latin 4 (Hermetic), Magic Theory 5 (craft magic), Low German 5 (Flemish), Parma Magica 2 (faerie powers), Penetration 2 (Animal), Profession: Dyer 2 (reds), Second Sight 2 (faerie glamour)

Arts: Cr 8**, In** 4**, Mu** 7**, Pe** 3**, Re** 14**; An** 10**, Aq** 2**, Au** 1**, Co** 5**, He** 10**, Ig** 1**, Im** 3**, Me** 5**, Te** 5**, Vi** 6

Twilight Scars: her arms are permanently

dyed blue; loose fibers spontaneously braid or knot themselves in her presence.

Equipment: none Encumbrance: 0 Spells Known:

Doublet of Impenetrable Silk (MuAn 15/+27 ^F Mastery 1 (Fast-Cast)

Madder, Woad, and Weld (MuAn (He) 20/+26 ^F ) The Unraveled Seam (PeAn(He) 5/+18 ^F ) Decay Fur and Hide (PeAn 10/+15) The Wizard's Spindle (ReAn 4/+36 ^F ) Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5/+26) Dressing the Human Form in Wool (ReAn 15/+36 ^F ) Ward Against Faeries Which Creep and Crawl

(ReAn 20/+27) Mastery 1 (Penetration) Cloak of the Duck's Feathers (ReAq 5/+18) Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+15) Sealing the Lips (MuCo 10/+20) Conjure the Sturdy Vine (CrHe 5/+20) Clothe the Naked Form (CrHe 10/+28 ^F ) Trap of the Entwining Vines (CrHe 15/+20) Piercing Shaft of Wood (Mu(Re)He 10/+19) Curse of the Rotted Wood (PeHe 5/+15) The Clothier's Craft Done in an Instant (ReHe 4/+36 ^F )

The Mended Tear (ReHe 5/+36 ^F ) Ward Against the Faeries of the Wood (ReHe 20/+26)

Unseen Porter (ReTe 10/+21)

)

Unraveling the Fabric of Herbam (PeVi 10/+11)

F includes Focus

Appearance: A plain, dumpy mature woman. Her back is hunched from her time over the loom, and her hands are constantly stained with dye. She has refitted her wardrobe as her trade has grown; her clients expect to see her well dressed, and she uses fabrics of her own invention, dyed to her own recipes, to demonstrate her wares. Her faerie heritage is evident in her hair, which is thick, black, wiry, and sparsely covers her whole body; and in her irises, which are as black as her pupils and give her an unsettling stare.

Activities in the last 15 years: Julia has invented 93 levels of spells. She has not spent any time creating magical items, since her Craft Magic allows her to duplicate simple effect in days rather than seasons. She has also acquired 197 experience points in Arts and 160 experience points in Abilities.

Characteristics: Int +1, Per -2, Pre 0, Com 0, Str 0, Sta +2, Dex +3, Qik 0

Size: 0 Age: 56 (50) Decrepitude: 0 Warping Score: 3 (15) Confidence Score: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Craft Magic*, Strong Faerie Blood (Spinnen); Affinity with Rego, Enduring Magic, Harnessed Magic, Lesser Immunity to Poison, Minor Magical Focus (clothing), Puissant Finesse, Second Sight**, Side Effect, Spell Foci*, True Friend¹; Difficult Longevity Ritual, Meddler, Supernatural Nuisance, Weak Spontaneous Magic*; Fear (spiders)

* House Virtues and Flaw** free with Strong Faerie Blood

¹ from Familiar Bond

Personality Traits: Busybody +3, Loyal to Tetrix +3, Industrious +2, Brave -2

Reputations: none

Combat:

Dodge: Init 0, Attack n/a, Defense 0, Damage n/a

Soak: +4 (includes Bronze Cord)

Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious

Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Artes Liberales 2 (grammar), Awareness 2 (faerie trickery), Bargain 1 (prices), Craft: Linen 4 (clothes), Craft: Wool 4 (felt), Concentration 2 (Herbam), Faerie Lore 3 (spiders), Finesse 5+2 (craft magic), Folk Ken 2 (craftsmen), Latin 4 (Hermetic), Magic Theory 6 (craft magic), Low German 5 (Flemish), Parma Magica 3 (faerie powers), Penetration 2 (Animal), Profession: Dyer 2 (reds), Second Sight 3 (faerie glamour)

Arts: Cr 8, In 4, Mu 10, Pe 5, Re 15; An 12, Aq 3, Au 3, Co 8, He 10, Ig 4, Im 5, Me 7, Te 5, Vi 8 (1)

Twilight Scars: her arms are permanently dyed blue; loose fibers spontaneously braid or knot themselves in her presence; she has a perpetual musky odor.

Equipment: Forfex Princeps talisman, the Loom of the Kabouters

Encumbrance: 0 Spells Known:

Shearing the Unseen Sheep (CrAn 20/+22)

Doublet of Impenetrable Silk (MuAn 15/+35 F)

Mastery 1 (Fast-Cast)

Madder, Woad, and Weld (MuAn (He) 20/+32 F)

The Unraveled Seam (PeAn(He) 5/+22 F) Decay Fur and Hide (PeAn 10/+19) The Unraveled Clothes (PeAn(He) 15/+22 F) The Wizard's Spindle (ReAn 4/+41 F) Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5/+29)

Dressing the Human Form in Wool (ReAn 15/+41 ^F) Ward Against Faeries Which Creep and Crawl (ReAn

20/+37 ^T) Mastery 1 (Penetration) Cloak of the Duck's Feathers (ReAq 5/+20) Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+18)

Sealing the Lips (MuCo 10/+20)

Conjure the Sturdy Vine (CrHe 5/+20)

Clothe the Naked Form (CrHe 10/+28 F)

Trap of the Entwining Vines (CrHe 15/+20) Weaver's Trap of Threads (CrHe 20/+20)

Piercing Shaft of Wood (Mu(Re)He 10/+22)

Curse of the Rotted Wood (PeHe 5/+17) The Clothier's Craft Done in an Instant (ReHe

The Mended Tear (ReHe 5/+37 F)

Tangle of Wood and Thorns (ReHe 15/+27)

The Animate Attire (ReHe $20/+37^{F}$ )

Ward Against the Faeries of the Wood (ReHe 20/+34 T)

Unseen Porter (ReTe 10/+22)

Unraveling the Fabric of Herbam (PeVi 10/+15)

includes Focus

$4/+37^{F}$

T includes Talisman

Appearance: A plain, dumpy mature woman. Her back is hunched from her time over the loom, and her hands are constantly stained with dye. She has refitted her wardrobe as her trade has grown; her clients expect to see her well dressed, and she uses fabrics of her own invention, dyed to her own recipes, to demonstrate her wares. Her faerie heritage is evident in her hair, which is thick, black, wiry, and sparsely covers her whole body; and in her irises, which are as black as her pupils and give her an unsettling stare.

Activities in the last 15 years: Julia has invented 90 levels of spells. She has located and forged a bond with her familiar Tetrix, enchanted the Snap of Awakening power (2 seasons), and made her paltry Longevity Ritual (1 season) in the form of an embroidered pouch she wears around her neck (with an extra pawn of vis this gave her -4 to Aging rolls). The Loom of the Kabouters has been prepared for enchantment and had both effects instilled in it (4 seasons). She has also prepared a pair of magical shears for enchantment and attuned them as her talisman — called Forfex Princeps — and instilled the Sever Wood and Bone effect (3 seasons). During this time she started to train an apprentice who assisted in the creation of these items (2 seasons). She has also

acquired 145 experience points in Arts and 125 experience points in Abilities.

Characteristics: Int +1, Per -2 (1), Pre 0, Com 0, Str 0, Sta +2, Dex +3 (1), Qik 0

Size: 0 Age: 71 (57) Decrepitude: 0 (2) Warping Score: 5 (10) Confidence Score: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: The Gift; Hermetic Magus; Craft Magic*, Strong Faerie Blood (Spinnen); Affinity with Rego, Enduring Magic, Harnessed Magic, Lesser Immunity to Poison, Minor Magical Focus (clothing), Puissant Finesse, Second Sight**, Side Effect, Spell Foci*, True Friend¹, Difficult Longevity Ritual, Meddler, Supernatural Nuisance, Weak Spontaneous Magic*; Fear (spiders)

* House Virtues and Flaw

** free with Strong Faerie Blood

1 from Familiar Bond

Personality Traits: Busybody +3, Loyal to Tetrix +3, Industrious +2, Brave -2

Reputations: none

Combat:

Dodge: Init 0, Attack n/a, Defense 0, Damage n/a

Soak: +4 (includes Bronze Cord)

Fatigue Levels: OK, 0, -1, -3, -5, Unconscious

Wound Penalties: -1 (1-5), -3 (6-10), -5 (11-15), Incapacitated (16-20), Dead (21+)

Abilities: Artes Liberales 2 (grammar), Awareness 2 (faerie trickery), Bargain 1 (prices), Craft: Linen 4 (clothes), Craft: Wool 5 (felt), Concentration 2 (Herbam), Faerie Lore 3 (spiders), Finesse 6+2 (craft magic), Folk Ken 2 (craftsmen), Latin 4 (Hermetic), Magic Theory 6 (craft magic), Low German 5 (Flemish), Parma Magica 4 (faerie powers), Penetration 3 (Animal), Profession: Dyer 2 (reds), Second Sight 3 (faerie glamour), Teaching 3 (crafts)

Arts: Cr 9, In 6, Mu 10, Pe 5, Re 17; An 13, Aq 5, Au 5, Co 8, He 11, Ig 5, Im 5, Me 7, Te 8, Vi 8 (1)

Twilight Scars: her arms are permanently dyed blue; loose fibers spontaneously braid or knot themselves in her presence; she has a perpetual musky odor; her canine teeth have become long and turned glossy black; she can alter the color of her eyes by simply concentrating.

Equipment: Forfex Princeps talisman, the Loom of the Kabouters, Fruit of the Loom Encumbrance: 0

Spells Known:

Shearing the Unseen Sheep (CrAn 20/+25)

Sturdy Mantle of the Traveler (CrAn 30/+34 F)

Doublet of Impenetrable Silk (MuAn 15/+36 F) Mastery 1 (Fast-Cast)

Madder, Woad, and Weld (MuAn (He) 20/+33 F)

Cloak of Nessus (MuAn 35/+35 F)

The Unraveled Seam (PeAn(He) 5/+23 F)

Decay Fur and Hide (PeAn 10/+20) The Unraveled Clothes (PeAn(He) 15/+23 F)

The Wizard's Spindle (ReAn 4/+45 F)

Circle of Beast Warding (ReAn 5/+34 T)

Dressing the Human Form in Wool (ReAn 15/+47 $^{\rm FT})$

Ward Against Faeries Which Creep and Crawl (ReAn 20/+38 T) Mastery 1 (Penetration)

Constraint of the Strangling Vestments (ReAn $35/+45^{\text{ F}}$ )

Cloak of the Duck's Feathers (ReAq 5/+24)

Bind Wound (CrCo 10/+19)

Sealing the Lips (MuCo 10/+20)

Conjure the Sturdy Vine (CrHe 5/+22)

Clothe the Naked Form ( $CrHe\ 10/+31^{F}$ )

Trap of the Entwining Vines (CrHe 15/+22)

The Travelers' Fortress of Cloth (CrHe 20/+22)

Weaver's Trap of Threads (CrHe 20/+22)

Piercing Shaft of Wood (Mu(Re)He 10/+23)

Curse of the Rotted Wood (PeHe 5/+29)

The Clothier's Craft Done in an Instant (ReHe 4/+43 FT)

The Mended Tear (ReHe 5/+41 F)

Tangle of Wood and Thorns (ReHe 15/+30)

The Animate Attire (ReHe 20/+41 F)

Embroidering the Wizard's Robes (ReHe 20/+41 F)

Ward Against the Faeries of the Wood (ReHe 20/+37 $^{\mathrm{T}}$ )

Unseen Porter (ReTe 10/+27)

Unraveling the Fabric of Herbam (PeVi 10/+15)

F includes Focus

I includes Talisman

Appearance: A plain, dumpy mature woman. Her back is hunched from her time over the loom, and her hands are constantly stained with dye. She has refitted her wardrobe as her trade has grown; her clients expect to see her well dressed, and she uses fabrics of her own invention, dyed to her own recipes, to demonstrate her wares. Her faerie heritage is evident in her hair, which is thick, black, wiry, and sparsely covers her whole body; and in her irises, which are as black as her pupils and give her an unsettling stare.

Activities in the last 15 years: Julia has invented 5 spells in 10 seasons (now using the seasonal method to determine spell creation since her Arts are advanced). She has devoted 13 seasons to instructing her

Season: Summer

Magic Might: 12 (Animal)

Characteristics: Int-3, Per+2, Pre-1, Com-2, Str-3, Sta+3, Dex 0, Qik+2

Size: -2

Confidence: 1 (3)

Virtues and Flaws: Magic Animal; Gossip, Student of Faerie; True Friend*; Clumsy, Non-Combatant

* from Familiar bond

Magical Qualities: Greater Power, No Fatigue; Gift of Speech, Improved Abilities, Improved Defense, Improved Abilities, Improved Soak

Qualities: Camouflage, Ambush Predator, Hardy

Personality Traits: Brave +3, Loyal to Julia +3, Inquisitive +1, Grouse (essential trait) +3

Combat:

Beak: Init +2, Attack +7, Defense +7, Damage -2

Dodge: Init +5, Attack n/a, Defense +7, Damage n/a

Soak: +7 (includes Bronze Cord)

Wound Penalties: -1 (1-3), -3 (4-6), -5 (7-9), Incapacitated (10-12), Dead (13+)

Abilities: Athletics 3 (flying), Awareness 4 (food), Brawl 4 (dodging), Faerie Lore 3 (faerie animals), Hunt 4 (spiders), Low German 3 (Flemish), Magic Theory 2 (enchantment), Music 2 (grouse-songs), Penetration 2 (Stand Your Ground power), Stealth 4 (stalking insects), Survival 5 (moorland)

Powers:

No Fatigue, 0 points, constant effect, Animal: Tetrix never gets tired. He has no fatigue levels, need not sleep, and cannot fall unconscious.

Stand Your Ground, 2 points, Init +4, Corpus or Animal: By confronting a person or animal and raising himself to his full height, Tetrix can freeze his target in her tracks. He can hold her still for as long as he confronts her, or else spend another point of might and leave her stuck until he is no longer in her presence. ReCo(An) 20 (base 5, +1 Eye, +1 Conc, +1 requisite); Greater Power (30 levels, +4 Init, +10 levels Penetration)

Snap of Awakening: Granted by the familiar bond, see main text for details.

Silent Speech: Granted by the familiar bond, see main text for details.

Vis: 3 pawns, in feathers

Appearance: Tetrix is a male black grouse (also called a blackcock). He is a handsome bird, with black plumage, red wattles, white wing-bars, and a lyreshaped tail. Like other game birds, his body is long and usually held horizontally, but when he stands upright he is about four feet tall.

Julia's choice of familiar — a black grouse — was somewhat whimsical; she was struck by the pun of "textrix" ("weaver") with "tetrix" ("grouse"), but discovered a bird who is a fierce hunter of spiders. They have become the closest of friends.

Tetrix is naturally expert at remaining hidden, and receives a +3 bonus to Stealth rolls whenever he is not moving. Grouse eat plant shoots and insects; when hunting the latter he has a +3 bonus to his Attack Total in the first round of combat if his opponent is unaware of his presence.

The Familiar Bond was forged with a Rego Animal Lab Total of 38: Gold Cord +2, Silver Cord +1, Bronze Cord +2

(Tetrix was created using the rules in Realms of Power: Magic, Chapter 4)

SNAP OF AWAKENING

ReMe 7

Pen 0, 3/day

R: Touch, D: Mom, T: Ind

Tetrix can instantly awaken Julia with this power. Since he never sleeps himself, he is always on watch when she is resting. (Base 4, +1 Touch; +2 3/day)

SILENT SPEECH

CrMe 15

Pen 0, unlimited/day

R: Touch, D: Mom, T: Ind

This is actually two effects, one to allow Julia to share words, images, and emotions with her familiar, and one to allow Tetrix to do the same with his maga.

(Base 4, +1 Touch; +10 unlimited uses)

apprentice. Julia has also invested two more effects into her familiar bond (2 seasons), and instilled another three effects in her talisman (4 seasons). Finally, she has spent two seasons making the brooch she calls Fruit of the Loom. She has also acquired 110 experience points in Arts and 120 experience points in Abilities.